Resilient tooth mounting for rotary plows



y 3, 1951 H. J. SEAMAN 2,559,048

RESILIENT TOOTH MOUNTING FOR ROTARY FLOWS Original Filed Sept. 26, 19422 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1 FIG. 2

' INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 3, 195] H. J. SEAMAN 2,559,048

RESILIENT TOOTH MOUNTING FOR ROTARY PLOWS Original Filed Sept. 26, 19422 Sheets-Sheet 2 FZ'G.1O FIG.11

INVENTOR HARRYJ. SEAMAN BY zi% 00%? ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1951RESILIEN T TOOTH MOUNTING FOR ROTARY PLOWS Harry J. Seaman, Milwaukee,Wis.

Continuation of application Serial No. 459,781, September 26, 1942. Thisapplication January 4, 1945, Serial No. 571,240

11 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to rotary pulverizers adapted for digging,cutting, disintegrating and mixing various materials, as in soilcultivation and road building.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means of simple,rugged and inexpensive construction for mounting pulverizing tools on arotary shaft and for facilitating the attachment and detachment of thetools.

Another object is to provide a rotary pulverizer which will permit themounting of a relatively large number of tools in a limited space whileproviding a substantial working depth.

A further object is to provide a pulverizer permitting theinterchangeable use of different types of tools.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating certain embodiments of theinvention,

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of one form of rotarypulverizer showing a peripheral row of tools, a deflected position ofone of the tools being shown by dotted lines, and the position of toolsin a laterally adjacent row being shown by dot-and-dash lines;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the pulverizer;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation of one of the tool mountings;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the tool mounting beforeclamping pressure is applied;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but showing tools of the coiledtorsion spring type substituted on the pulverizer shaft;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the pulverizer of Fig. 6, parts of thetools being broken away;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional elevation taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the pulverizer of Fig. 6, showingthe tool before clamping pressure is applied;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form ofpulverizer;

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the pulverizer of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional elevation of one of the tool mountings ofthe device of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, but showing the tool mountingbefore clamping pressure is applied;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional elevation taken on the line I l-I4 of Fig.10;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one of the tools and its associatedspring, and

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 12, but with the toolsubjected to greater clamping pressure.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, l5 designates arotatable tool shaft or drum which is conveniently formed of round steelpipe or tubing. Secured about the tubular shaft are axially spaced rowsof rectangular metal blocks I6 bent to an arched shape, the blocks ineach peripheral row being equally spaced, and' the blocks also beingarranged in helically extending rows along the shaft. The arched blocksare saddled on the shaft and are firmly welded to the shaft along theiropposite end edges 11, these edges extending parallel to the shaft axis.The opposite side edges I8 of each block are parallel and form axiallyspaced shoulders facing away from each other, and in each peripheral rowof blocks the opposite side edges of the blocks lie in parallel planesnormal to the shaft axis. Radially extending studs I9 are firmlyscrew-threaded through the central portions of the respective blocks l6and through the underlying walls of the tubular shaft, thus providing asubstantial length of screw-threaded engagement for the studs eventhough the walls of the tubular shaft are relatively thin. The studs ineach peripheral row are equally spaced and lie in a plane normal to theshaft axis, and the studs are also arranged in helically extending rowsalong the shaft.

Mounted on the shaft are peripheral rows of tools 20 in the form ofresilient tines or teeth. Associated with the tools are respective leafsprings 2!, the tools and springs being formed of fiat metal bar stockand extending in a generally tangential direction with respect to theshaft. Each tool has an arched end mounting portion 22 with anintermediate stud-receiving opening 23.

The free end portion 24 of the tool is suitably shaped to suit the workat hand and is here shown to be hooked in the direction of rotation.

The extremity of the arched end portion 22 of the tool presents atoe-forming bearing edge 25 and the other end of the arched portion hasa heel-forming bearing edge or knuckle 26, these bearing edges beingparallel and extending transversely of the tool at right angles to thetool and parallel to the shaft axis. Each leaf spring 2| underlies thecorresponding tool 20 in face-toface relation and in effect forms a partthereof, the spring having the same general shape as the tool exceptthat it is shorter and has no hooked free end. The spring has an archedend portion 27 similar to the arched end portion of the tool andprovided with a stud-receiving opening 28 and bearing edges 29 and fill.Near the outer end of the spring the tool and spring are preferablyprovided with an aligning tongue-and-groove connection 3]. Thetangentially arranged por tions of the tool and spring extend from theshaft in a direction away from the direction of shaft rotation and areapproximately at right angles to the axis of the associated stud.

The radius at the inner side of each of. the

arched end mounting portions of the tool and spring is somewhat lessthan the radius of the shaft, so that the bearing edges 29 and 30 of thespring will engage the cylindrical surface of the shaft and the bearingedges 25 and 26 of the tool will engage the convex side of the spring.Each stud 19 carries a clampin nut 32 for the associated tool andspring, and before this nut is tightened the parts assume the positionshown in Fig. 4, the arched portion 2'5 of the spring clearing the blockor plate It. Upon tightening the nut, the resilient arched portions ofthe tool and spring are depressed and fiexurally stressed and thebearing edges 25 and 3!! of the spring press firmly on the cylindricalsurface of the shaft and prevent any angular shifting of the springabout the stud axis. The bearing edges of the tool similarly engage thespring and prevent angular shifting of the tool. The spring pressure onthe nut retains the nut firmly in place. and no special nut-lockingmeans is required. By turning the nut down on the stud, the archedportion of the spring is brought close to or in contact with theopposite ends ll of the block 16, these block ends limiting theflattening or deflection of the arched portion and forming, gagingabutments to avoid overstressing of the tool and stud. The central partof the arched portion of the tool is brought close to or in contact withthe underlying arched portion of the spring. The stud receiving openings23' and 28 are preferably farther from the bearing edges 26 and 39 thanfrom the bearing edges 25 and 25, so as to avoid undue stress on thestud when the tools are subjected to an operating load. The hooked freeends of the tools are preferably twisted r skewed so as to provide forlateral impelling or whipping action on the ground or other materialbeing worked. The tools in each peripheral row have their free endstwisted alternately toward opposite sides, as shown, but in someinstances all the tools may have the same twist. The laterally adjacentrows of tools can be mounted relatively close together. somewhat lessthan one-half the effective tool radius, thus providing a substantialworking depth for the tools.

In operation, the tubular tool shaft or drum rotates in the directionshown by the arrow in Fig. 1 to drive or impel the tools, the anchoredend of each tool being angularly in advance of the hooked free end ofthe tool. During rotation, the hooked tool ends dig into the ground orother material being worked and have a pulverizing and mixing action onthe material. Upon encounterin excessive resistance to rotation, theouter free ends of the resilient tools will yield rearwardly andinwardly and shorten their effective radius, thus reducing the danger ofbreakage. In their deflection under load, each tool and associatedspring have fulcrum points at the bearing, edges 26 and 30,respectively, and

The radius of the shaft is preferably 'be omitted.

The tool shaft l5 of Fig, l is so arranged as to permit readysubstitution of tools 40 of the double coiled torsion spring type, asshown in Figs. 6 to 9. Each tool comprise a double coiled spring 4|adapted to detachably carry a hooked tine 42 and having parallel archedshank portions 43 adapted to bear on the cylindrical surface of theshaft, there being a tool at each of the blocks I6. The arched shankportions, when free, preferably have a radius which is shorter than theradius of the shaft, as indicated in Fig. 9, so as to provide a firmbearing on the shaft, each arched shank portion having bearing surfaces39 and 50 at its opposite ends engageable with the shaft. The shankportions of each spring are disposed at the opposite sides of thecorresponding block [6 and are clamped to the shaft and to the oppositeshoulder-forming side edges Is of the block, as best seen in Fig. 8, byclampin yokes 44 each having angularly extending end portions 45 andhaving a central opening 46 through which the corresponding stud l9passes. By turning down the nut 32 on the stud each of the arched shankportions of the tool is flexurally stressed and pressed firmly againstthe cylindrical surface of the shaft, the side edge I8 of the block l6and the inner surface of the angular projection 45 of the clamping yoke4%, thus providing a threepoint engagement. If desired, a nub 41 may beformed on the end portion of each spring shank 43 to prevent accidentalrelease of the tool. The pulverizer of Figs.'6 to 9 is similar inoperation to the device of Figs. 1 to 5.

The modified form of pulverizer illustrated in Figs. 10 to 15, which isgenerally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, includes a tubularshaft or drum 55 having secured therein a series of peripheral rows ofradially extending studs 69, the walls of the shaft being of suitablethickness to hold the studs firmly in position. Tools 13 and asso ciatedleaf springs ll, similar to those of the device of Fig. l, are mountedon the shaft and have respective arched portions 72 and i'l'withopenings 73 and '18 to receive the studs. The arched portion E2 of eachtool has a toe forming bearing edge l5 and a heel-forming bearing edge16, and the arched portion "a"! of each spring has similar bearing'edgesl9 and 853, "the latter being adapted to engage the cylindrical surfaceofthe shaft. Each tine and associated spring are firmly but detachablyheld on the shaft by a nut 32 threaded onto the corresponding stud, asin the device of Fig. 1. The arched portions of the tools and spring arehere shown to be somewhat flatter than those of the device of Fig; l,and the construction is such as to permit a larger number of tools to beused in each peripheral row on a shaft of given size, six being shown inthe present instance. The free end portions '14 of the toools are hookedin the direction of rotation, as in the device of Fig. l, and theassociated springs and tools are provided with aligning tongue-andgrooveconnections 8| near the outer ends of the springs. Upon tightening thenut 82 from the loose position seen in Fig. 13, to the clamped positionseen in Fig. 12, the resilient arched portions of the tool and springare depressed and fiexurally stressed and are prevented from angularlyshifting about the stud axis, the bearing edges 19 and 80 of the springengaging the cylindrical surface of the shaft and the central part ofthe arched portion of the spring being brought close to or in contactwith the shaft surface. The pulverizer is otherwise the same inconstruction as that of Fig. l, and operates in a similar manner. InFig. 16, the central part of the arched portion of the spring is shownto be in contact with the surface of the shaft.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that changes and modifications may bemade within the scope of the invention as claimed.

This application constitutes a continuation of my application Serial No.459,7 81, for Rotary Pulverizers, filed September 26, 1942, nowabandoned.

What I' claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rotary pulverizer, a rotatable tool shaft, outwardly extendingstuds rigidly secured to said shaft in peripherally spaced relation,tools each comprising a flat tine element and a backing leaf springtherefor, said tine element and leaf sprin each having a resilientarched end portion, and each arched end portion having longitudinallyspaced bearing surfaces and a stud-receiving opening between saidsurfaces, the spaced bearing surfaces of said spring being engageablewith said shaft, and nuts on said studs for clamping the associatedtines and springs to said shaft, each tine element and leaf springextending from its arched end portion in a direction away from thedirection of rotation of said shaft and approximately at right angles tothe associated stud.

2. In a rotary pulverizer, a rotatable tool shaft having a convexlycurved periphery, outwardly extending studs rigidly secured to saidshaft in peripherally spaced relation, tools each having a resilient endportion with longitudinally spaced bearing surfaces and a stud-receivingopening between said surfaces, said bearing surfaces being engageablewith the curved periphery of said shaft and extending substantiallyparallel to the shaft axis, and nuts on said studs for clamping thetools on said shaft, each tool extending from said shaft in a directionaway from the direction of shaft rotation and approximately at rightangles to the associated stud.

3. In a rotary pulverizer, a rotatable tool shaft, blocks rigidlysecured to the periphery of said shaft in peripherally spaced relation,outwardly extending studs rigidly secured to said shaft and passingthrough said respective blocks, tools each having a resilient arched endportion extending over the corresponding block and bearing on theperiphery of said shaft beyond the opposite ends of the block, saidtools each having a stud-receiving opening in said arched portions, andnuts on said studs for clamping the arched end portions of the tools tosaid shaft, each block forming a gaging abutment to preventoverstressing of the overlying resilient tool end portion, and each toolextending from said shaft in a direction away from the direction ofshaft rotation.

4. In a rotary pulverizer, a rotatable tool shaft, blocks rigidlysecured to the periphery of said shaft in peripherally spaced relation,outwardly 6 7 extending studs rigidly secured to said shaft and passingthrough the respective blocks, tools mounted on said shaft and eachhaving a resilient compressible end portion engaging said shaft andprovided with a stud-receiving opening, and nuts on said studs forfiexurally stressing the compressible portions of said tools and forclamping said portions to said shaft, each tool extending from saidshaft in a direction away from the direction of shaft rotation.

5. In a rotary pulverizer, a rotatable tubular tool shaft, blocksrigidly secured to the periphery of said shaft in peripherally spacedrelation, outwardly extending studs rigidly screw-threaded in saidrespective blocks and the underlying walls of the shaft, the inner endsof said studs being adjacent to the inner periphery of said tubularshaft, tools each having a resilient inner end portion withlongitudinally spaced bearing surfaces and a stud-receiving openingbetween said surfaces, and nuts on said studs for clamping the inner endportion of said tools to said shaft, each tool extending from said shaftin a direction away from. the direction of shaft rotation.

6. In a rotary pulverizer, a rotatable tubular tool shaft, outwardlyextending studs secured to said shaft in peripherally spaced relation,the inner ends of said studs being adjacent to the inner periphery ofsaid tubular shaft, tools each having a resilient arched end portionsaddled on said shaft, said arched end portion having longitudinallyspaced shaft-engaging bearing surfaces and a stud-receiving openingbetween said surfaces, and nuts on said studs for clamping the archedportions of the tools to said shaft, each tool extending from said shaftin a direction away from the direction of shaft rotation.

7. In a rotary pulverizer, a rotatable tool shaft, a tool having aresilient inner end portion with longitudinally spaced bearing surfacesengageable with said shaft at peripherally spaced points of said shaft,said tool having an opening at a point between said bearing surfaces andunequally spaced therefrom, said opening being farther from the bearingsurface toward the free end of said tool than from the other bearingsurface, and means passing through said opening for inwardly deflectingand flexurally stressing said end portion of the tool and for clampingthe tool to the shaft, said tool extending from said shaft in adirection away from the direction of shaft rotation.

8. In a rotary pulverizer, a rotatable tool shaft, peripherally spacedtools arranged about said shaft and each having a resilient portionengaging said shaft, and means engaging said resilient portion of eachtool at an intermediate point of said portion for flexurally stressingsaid resilient portion and for clamping said tool to said shaft to berotated by said shaft, said resilient portion when in unstressedcondition having longitudinally spaced bearing surfaces engageable withsaid shaft.

9. In a rotary pulverizer, a rotatable tool shaft, peripherally spacedtools arranged about said shaft and each having an arched resilientportion saddled on said shaft, and means engaging said arched resilientportion of each tool at an intermediate point of said portion forfleXurally stressing said resilient portion and for clamping said toolto said shaft to be rotated by said shaft, said arched resilient portionwhen in unstressed condition having longitudinally spaced bearingsurfaces engageable with said shaft.

10. In a rotary pulverizer, a rotatable tool shaft having axially spacedshoulders facing away from each other, peripherally spaced toolsarranged about said shaft and each having a pair of resilient shanksengaging said shaft and said shoulders, each shank when in unstressedcondition having longitudinally spaced bearing surfaces engageable withsaid shaft, and securing means for each tool including an apertured yokehaving cam-forming end portions engaging the intermediate parts of saidtool shanks for flexurally stressing said shanks and for forcing saidshanks toward each other and against said shoulders.

11. In a rotary pulverizer, a rotatable tool shaft having axially spacedshoulders facingaway from each other, peripherally spaced tools arrangedabout said shaft and each having a pair of arched resilient shankssaddled on said shaft and laterally engaging said shoulders, each shankwhen in unstressed condition having longitudinally spaced bearingsurfaces engageable 'With said shaft, and means engaging theintermediate portions of said tool shanks for fiexurally stressing saidshanks and for securing said shanks to said shaft and in lateralabutment with said shoulders.

HARRY J. SEAMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 241,528 Cobb May 17, 1881338,176 La Dow Mar. 16, 1886 644,046 Albright Feb. 27, 1900 1,122,461Arundel Dec. 29, 1914 1,132,152 Bell Mar. 16, 1915 2,364,667 Seaman Dec.12, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,686 Australia May 22,1930 552,387 Germany June 13, 1932

